Echeveria plant named ‘Angel Kissed’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plant of Echeveria hybrida named ‘Angel Kissed’ is disclosed, characterized by a low growing morphology and an overall pink blush to the rosette. Plants are compact and grow robustly. Foliage grows in a very concentric formation and is colored greyed-green, overlaid with a pink blush and each leaf margined in pink and having a bright pink apical tip. Echeveria is a popular genus, typically produced as container plants for the patio or as landscape plants.

Latin name of the genus and species: Echeveria hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘ANGEL KISSED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’, is the product of a planned breeding program by the inventor. The new variety was selected as a seedling from an open pollination program. The open-pollination resulting in the new variety was made between 2012 and 2014 at a commercial nursery in Vista, Calif. The seed parent is the unpatented Echeveria hybrida cultivar known as ‘Lola’. The pollen parent is unknown. The discovery was made during April of 2016, in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ was first performed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetative offsets in May of 2016. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ has since produced at least 11 generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ANGEL KISSED’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ANGEL KISSED’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ is a compact Echeveria with a lower     growing morphology, characterized by an overall pink blush. -   2. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ displays a very concentric formation of     leaves that are greyed-green overlaid with a pink blush, each leaf     margined in pink and terminating with a pink apical tip. -   3. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ is a strong and robust grower. -   4. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’, due to its pink coloration, is an     excellent choice as an accent to other Echeverias in blue and green     hues when mixed in commercial trays, or used as an accent plant in     the commercially popular succulent mixed plantings or succulent     gardens, particularly in contrast with succulents with orange or     yellow foliage.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ are similar to plants of the parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ differ in the following:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ forms rosettes that are lower in     morphology than those of Echeveria ‘Lola’. -   2. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ exhibits a rosette color of greyed-green     overlaid with a pink blush, whereas the rosette of Echeveria ‘Lola’     is a pale alabaster color, blushed with violet during times of     stress. -   3. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ displays leaves margined in pink,     terminating apically with pink, whereas Echeveria ‘Lola’ exhibits     leaves with hyaline margins. -   4. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ is a robust grower, with fewer     cultivation problems as found in Echeveria ‘Lola’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ can be compared to the commercial variety Echeveria ‘Pink Diamond’, U.S. application Ser. No. 17/130,625. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ differ in the following:

-   1. While both varieties are compact, Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ is     lower growing than ‘Pink Diamond’. -   2. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ does not have the hyaline margins found     on ‘Pink Diamond’. -   3. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ produces leaves that are less blunt at     the apex.

The new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ can be compared to the unpatented Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ are similar to Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Angel Kissed’ differ in the following:

-   1. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ forms nearly stemless rosettes of a low     morpholgy, whereas Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ produces rosettes     with more stem growth, eventually resulting in a more shrublike     Echeveria. -   2. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ has a somewhat slower growth rate than     does Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’. -   3. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ exhibits bright pink margins and apical     tip, whereas Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ displays a nearly     monotone colored rosette. -   4. Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’ exhibits resistance to the fungi     Rhizoctonia, whereas Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ can be subject     to attack by the fungi Rhizoctonia, often leading to demise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and equipment. While the colors in these photographs may display variances of color as compared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (light reflectance value), they are as accurate as possible using conventional photographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of new Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’. Plants photographed are approximately 5 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color the rosette being described of Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’, grown in a greenhouse (approximately 2100 foot candles) in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color the rosette of a different angle of Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’, grown in a greenhouse (approximately 2100 foot candles) in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color a comparison between Echeveria ‘Lola;’ and Echeveria ‘Angel Kissed’, grown in a greenhouse (approximately 2100 foot candles) in Vista, Calif.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Angel Kissed’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 38° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria hybrida ‘ANGEL KISSED’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: About 11 days at approximately 24° C. -   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months from a cutting. -   Container size of the plant described: 12 cm. -   Growth habit: Moderately dense, symmetrical rosette. -   Height: Approximately 6 to 7 cm to top of highest leaf. -   Plant spread: Approximately 13 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid. -   Branching characteristics: Rosette forming, no branching.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate.         -   Quantity.—About 70 to 85 per plant.         -   Average length.—Average range 3.5 to 5.7 cm.         -   Average width.—2.9 cm.         -   Thickness.—7 to 9 mm.         -   Shape of blade.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate. Slightly sharp.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Flat when mature, slightly concave younger foliage.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte, slightly glaucous.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte, slightly glaucous.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Greyed-Purple N187D.             Base near Green-White 157C. Margin Greyed-Purple 186A and             186B. Apical point colored near Red 53B. Young foliage,             under side: Near Greyed-Purple N187D. Base near Green-White             157C. Margin Greyed-Purple 186A and 186B. Apical point             colored near Red 53B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Green 191B. Base near Green-White 157C. Upper portion             of blade flushed Greyed-Purple 184D. Margin and apex Red             50A. Mature foliage, under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191B.             Base near Green-White 157C. Upper portion of blade flushed             Greyed-Purple 184D. Margin and apex Red 50A.         -   Venation.—There is no visual appearance of venation.

FLOWER

-   None observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   None observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately     −2° C. to at least 35° C. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance observed to fungal diseases     common with overwatering of Echeveria plants. Neither resistance or     susceptibility to other normal diseases and pests of Echeveria has     been observed. The pathogens of the fungal diseases cause leafspot     in Echeveria are unconfirmed. Potential pathogens include Alternaria     spp., Bipolaris cactivori, Botrytis spp., Cladosporium tenuissimum,     Colletotrichum spp. and Cercospora spp. -   Drought tolerance: Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high temperatures     without supplemental water, showing no serious damage to plant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echeveria plant named ‘ANGEL KISSED’ as herein illustrated and described. 